"Fact finding by the Saxena committee and the Meena Gupta committee has proved the existence of forest rights. But the FRA (Forest Rights Act) is not implemented by the state government in the area," a press release by Maoists national spokesperson Abhay, on behalf of it central committee said.

"CPI (Maoist) hails the people of Orissa who are determined to stop the much-touted 52,000 crore 'biggest foreign direct investment' in India and declares its full support and solidarity for them," it said.

It alleged that the Centre and the Orissa government disrespected the resolution of more than 65 per cent of villagers who participated in the palli sabhas of Dhinkia and Govindpur panchayats which unequivocally rejected the proposal for diversion of land.

It asked the government to 'stop intimidating the people', halt land acquisition for Posco and withdraw the police and paramilitary forces from the project area in Orissa's Jagatsinghpur district.

"The overwhelming majority of this country's population is rejecting the profit-centric, pro-imperialist development model and embracing the people-centric, pro-people development model," the release added.